King Of Swing filly brings top price at sale

A strapping bay filly by the three-time Miracle Mile and Horse of the Year winner King Of Swing, and one of his first crop, brought the top price of $82,500 at the Australian Pacing Gold Melbourne yearling sale at Oaklands Junction on Sunday.

Consigned by Bill and Anne Anderson’s Lauriston Bloodstock, the filly was bought by Jenny Turnbull, the wife of leading NSW trainer-driver Steve Turnbull, and will be trained by their daughter Amanda.

She is out of the Art Major mare Queen Of Pop 1:57.3 ($204,527), winner of the 2014 APG 2YO Final and dam of the 2022 APG 3YO Final and NSW Oaks winner Just Hope 1:52.5 ($367,527) and the Bathurst Gold Crown victor Chart Topper 1:52.6 ($123,016) and from the family of the 2012 APG winner Musical Delight 1:53.1 ($248,910) and the 2022 NSW APG Gold Bullion 3YO winner Ripp 1:50.4 ($287,806).

Prepared by Llowalong Farms, the filly is Vicbred, NSW Breeders Challenge, Bathurst Gold Crown and Cobbitty Equine Classic eligible.

The leading price paid for a colt was $42,000 for the handsome Raging Bull colt out of the Somebeachsomewhere mare Somedreamsomewhere 1:56.6 (74,957), whose close relative For Real Life scored in 1:50.1 at Albion Park one day earlier.

The youngster was bred by Albury veterinarian Megan Thomas, a former Llowalong Farms staffer, and is the first horse she has ever bred. He was bought by well known Melbourne owner and benefactor John Hawke, of Renown Silverware fame.

The Vicbred eligible colt was prepared by Dean and Blanche Poole, of Rhiannon Park, Congupna, and was one of three recipients of $100 vouchers provided by EQ Saddlery Kilmore for best presented, the others being Ride High-Melinka (Clive Dalton) and Ride High-Serenity Franco NZ (Monique Burnett).

The winners of the three best presented fillies, carrying $100 vouchers from Garrard’s Horse & Hound, were Huntsville-Ideally Say Yes (Monique Burnett), Vincent-Our Lola Mae (Rhiannon Park) and Downbytheseaside-Sporty Max (Dunroamin Standardbreds).

The well attended sale attracted buyers from New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania.

Of the 60 lots offered, 45 were sold for a pleasing 75 percent clearance rate.

“It’s fantastic to see a filly from King Of Swing’s first-crop attracting such strong interest, particularly since he has some more progeny coming up in both Ipswich and Sydney,” APG General Manager Anthony Essex said.

“Lauriston Bloodstock always produces top-tier yearlings, and we’re excited to follow this filly’s progress and see her in our race series next year. We could be looking at the next supersire in the making.

“With buyers from up and down the east coast attending and bidding actively, this sale reinforced the demand for well-bred yearlings, no matter the conditions. We’re proud to provide a platform that delivers great opportunities for both vendors and buyers in the industry.

“We’re really pleased with the clearance rate at the Melbourne sale, and it gives buyers great odds in the 2026 APG Race Series. With separate $100,000 finals for both colts and fillies, there is a better than 1 in 30 chance to win.

“There’s still an opportunity for buyers to snap up one of the few passed-in lots and secure their spot in the big race. Just visit the website to see the remaining lots and their reserve prices.”

APG will be accepting offers on passed in yearlings for the next two weeks and will negotiate with the buyer on your behalf. Click here to review the full sale results and make an offer.

The sale grossed $769,500.

by Peter Wharton, for Harness Racing Victoria